Portfolio Insights:“The endowments that support Ohio University have grown by nearly $330 million (almost four fold) in the past 20 years. These endowed funds provide essential support for the University’s academic mission through scholarships for students, support for faculty research and creative activity, and resources for programs, partnerships, technology and facilities.

The endowment portfolio is professionally managed, with the long-term objective of producing real growth in excess of the spending policy and inflation. The endowment is broadly diversified into equities, fixed income and alternative investments, including commodities, private equity and hedge funds, with a 75 percent allocation to equity-oriented investments and 25 percent to fixed income-oriented investments. This allocation provides the opportunity for high risk-adjusted returns.” (Source)

1) Established in 1945 by President John C. Baker, The Ohio University Foundation serves as the fund raising arm of Ohio University. The Foundation is an institutionally-related, nonprofit, tax exempt, 501(c)(3) organization, and is the repository for all private gifts to Ohio University through annual giving programs, capital and special campaigns, and planned or deferred gifts such as bequests and trusts. Contributions to The Ohio University Foundation are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.

Private philanthropy has had a rich and dramatic impact on Ohio University from as early as 1816 when Christopher and Daniel Herrold forgave the debt for the lumber used to build Cutler Hall, to several, more recent capital campaigns. Gifts from generous donors have provided for scholarships and financial aid packages, research and faculty development, capital expansion and renovations, technology upgrades and lab equipment, library acquisitions, and vital unrestricted support that has allowed Ohio University to meet unexpected challenges. (Source)

2) The long-term objective of the Foundation’s General Endowment Fund (the “Fund”) is to maximize the real return, or the nominal return less inflation, of the assets over a complete market cycle with emphasis on preserving capital and reducing volatility through prudent diversification. The Investment Committee of the Foundation (“Investment Committee”) has adopted an investment strategy which has the long-term objective of producing real growth of assets in excess of the Fund’s spending requirements and inflation. (Source)

3) The Ohio State University requires substantial, consistent and permanent funding and, by receiving such funds, the University can continue to provide strong academic programs and innovative technology. Endowment funds embody such a need. Gifts are invested in perpetuity, and distribution from the invested contributions is used to fund the desired activities. A portion of the income may be reinvested in the fund at the request of the donor or department to further enhance the fund’s buying power over time. All endowed fund gifts at Ohio State are pooled together with other long-term university assets to form the “Long-Term Investment Pool”. (Source)

4) Ohio University is a great university. Our rich history spans more than two centuries, and we’re poised to provide the nation’s best transformative learning experience, what some call “that OHIO experience.” It’s an experience that transforms the lives of our students who go on to lead change in our state, our nation, and our world. Ohio University’s 14th president John C. Baker showed tremendous foresight when he established The Ohio University Foundation in 1945. He expected that this humble beginning would grow with Ohio University. He was right: at more than $446.7 million as of June 30, 2013, it is clear Ohio University endowments have enjoyed great success. (Source)

5) The Fund may invest in private real estate, limited partnership interests and alternative investments, including private equity and hedge funds, only with the prior approval of the Governing Fiduciary. The Governing Fiduciary, at the request of the Managing Fiduciary, will determine the appropriateness of each investment on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the relevant analysis of the investment as provided by the Managing Fiduciary, including the illiquidity of the investment, in addition to the Fund’s overall allocation to alternative investments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Managing Fiduciary does not have investment oversight responsibility of the assets in the “self-directed” account, as outlined in the Managing Fiduciary Client Agreement. (Source)

About Richard C. Wilson

INC 500

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